Sewing machine light or the like



Dec. 31, 1940. H. B. BARBER 2,226,689

SEWING MACHINE LIGHT OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 4, 1939 INVENTOR. .Howardl? Barber;

BY %J V ORNEY.

Patented Dec. 31, 1940 PATENT OFFICE SEWINGMACHINE LIGHT OR THE LIKE Howard B. Barber, Chicago, 111.. asslxnor to Montgomery 1 Ward & 00., Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 4, 1939, Serial No. 307,310

1 Claim.

This invention has to do with a light for a sewing machine. More particularly, it relates to a provision of a light which is 'used toilluminate the needle and area around the needle, 5 providing light where it is most needed for the operator of the machine.

In the past, sewing machine lights have been enclosed in a part of the machine near the needle. Such lights however have been comparatively diflicult to manipulate and particularly when threading the machine requires removal of the cover. Heretofore, it has been necessary to entirely remove the cover and the operator of the machine was apt to drop it and injure the light or break some of the parts. When it was unnecessary to use the light, it was apt to be removed and mislaid.

It is an object oi the present invention to provide a light in a cover, which cover is'hinged to the end of the machine near the needle.

it is another object to provide 'a light which is swingingly mounted at the needle end of the machine, and which may be swung back out of the way when not in use or when threading the machine, and may be swung forward into position when light is desired on the needle and surrounding area.

It is a further object to provide a light which is normally concealed, but may be easily swung 80 into view for replacement of the bulb or other adjustments. In this connection it is an object to provide a light which will normally break contact upon swinging into view so that there is little or no danger of the operator being electrically burned or shocked in making repairs or the like, and it is a purpose to place the contact so that it will be made well within the interior a of the machine 'structure at a position not normally coming into engagement with any portion 40 of the anatomy of the operator.

It is a further object to provide a normally concealed light permanently mounted on an integral portion of the machine mechanism, at the 'needle end of the machine, and which it is unnecessary to dismount when making adjustments of the thread or working parts of the machine.

It is an object to provide a cover which effectively conceals the working parts of the machine at the needle end, which cover carries a light in position to illuminate the working area surrounding the needle, which cover is permanently mounted on the needle end of the machine, in a manner to permit it to be swung out of the way for manipulating various parts of the 6 machine, but also in a manner to permit it to (Cl. Mil-2.14)

be quickly swung forward into position, and locked therein, the light preferably being connected to a circuit and burning only when the cover is closed.

Other objects and advantages of the inven- 6 tion will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyl0 ing drawing, and finally pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a sewing machine head, showing particularly the 15 needle end of said head, and the cover for the light and said end, in closed operating position; and

Figure 2 is'a fragmentary perspective view of the needle end portion of the sewing machine :0 head, showing the cover opening and the light disengaged from the circuit.

Referring more in detail to the construction shown in the figures, 1 have provided the sewing machine head I0, which is provided with the :5 cover ii on the end thereof on which the needle I2 is located. The cover ll is hinged to the sewing machine head by the hinges i3 and. I8, so that it preferably swings to the rear and away from the operator when not in position over the 80 end of the head.

The cover II has a lug l5 preferably about a distance from the bottom equal to the length of a small bulb Sand a socket i'l. The socket i1 is attached to the lug by any means, such as a II bolt or the like I8, so that it preferably depends downwardly and brings the bulb to a position close to the bottom of the cover Ii.

The cover II is open at its bottom end so that the lightfrom the bulb "5 will be directed downdo wardly, but the cover is substantially closed on its other edges; that is, it forms a closed container on all sides but the bottom when in closed position on the end of the sewing machine head l0.

The socket H has the leads l9 to a cover contact 20. This contact 20 would preferably be insulated from the cover II, and would have the points 2| extending a slight way past the edge of the cover when the cover is closed over the 50 end of the machine, in normal operating position, the points 2| contact; the'lead-in contact points 22.

These contact points 22 are ordinarily placed in a position substantially behind the face plate 23,

so that a person manipulating the thread adjustments or other adjustments on the end of the sewing machine head would not ordinarily come into contact with said contact points 22.

It will readily be seen that when the cover II is swung open the points 2| disengage the contact points easily thus breaking the circuit to the light l6. This is ordinarily the preferable arrangement although it may be desirable to have permanent contacts rather than ones which disconnect when the cover it is swung back out of operating position.

The cover ii is provided with a support lug 24 which fits into a recess 25 on the sewing machine head, and provides a support against vertical movement of the cover II, with consequent loosening of the screws for the hinges I l, or other damage. It likewise makes the cover very sturdy when in closed position and assists in preventing rattling and noise.

The cover ll, likewise is provided with a latch 26 normally holding it tight against the sewing machine head In when in closed position by engagement with the edge of the sewing machine head at a position substantially that shown at 21. The latch 26 may be of any desired type but preferably is a spring latch permanently fastened to the cover ll.

I have provided the button 28 which is oper I able to disengage the latch 26 so that the cover I I may be swung open as previously explained.

It will thus be seen that ordinarily when the operator comes to the machine, she will press the button 28 and swing the cover II with its attendant parts to a position substantially that of Figure 2. After threading the machine in the normal way, she will snap the cover shut and spring pressure on the latch 26 will retain the cover in position. Upon-closing, if the source of current to the machine, and particularly to the lead-in contact points 22 has been turned on, the light IE will flash on and will provide a light for the work area surrounding the needle l2, thus providing desired illumination for the operator. The cover II is preferably a fairly tight fit all around except for its open bottom portion so that the light will not flash directly into the eyes of the operator.

It is believed unnecessary to describe the method of threading the parts on the end of the sewing machine head Ill, but it is desirable to call attention to the fact that movement of some of these parts is very tiring to the eyes of the operator and the provision of a swinging cover such as H normally hides the parts while they are moving, preventing a portion of the fatigue ordinarily experienced in operating a machine. These parts are of course concealed when the cover Ii is in closed position.

The form of the invention herein shown and described presents a preferred embodiment thereof, and delineates its adaption to practical use, but it is to be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered from the illustrative standpoint and not as imposing restriction or limitation on the invention.

While I have herein shown and described certain features of my invention, still I do not wish to limit myself thereto, except as I may do so in the claim.

I claim:

In combination a cover means for the needle end of a sewing machine head, hinge means attaching said cover to said sewing machine head, a light means within said cover means, said light means comprising a bulb in a socket, connections between said light means and a cover contact means, lead in contact points on said sewing machine head contacting the cover contact means when said cover is in a closed position on said sewing machine head providing a light operating circuit to said lighting means, the contact points on said sewing machine head being located within a recessed portion of said sewing machine head whereby they are protected against normal accidental short circuiting by the operator, said contact means being engaged by the light connection cover contact when the cover is closed and becoming disengaged by said cover contacts when the cover is open, thus breaking the light circuit whenever the cover means is open with respect to the sewing machine head.

HOWARD B. BARBER. 

